Review: CCNP Practical Studies: Switching



CCNA ICND Exam Certification Guide

Reviewer: David Ballard, Technology Analyst

Rating: **** out of *****

If you're looking at this book, chances are you've already passed the 640-821 INTRO exam. If that's your starting point and you used the Cisco Press CCNA INTRO Exam Certification Guide, you'll find more of the same in this book. (Note: If you haven't taken the 640-821 INTRO exam or bought the Cisco Press CCNA INTRO Exam Certification Guide, get the CCNA Certification Library, 6th Edition - it contains the CCNA INTRO Exam Certification Guide and this book and is cheaper than buying both separately.)

Pros

- For those of you who have been using Cisco equipment for a while, the "Do I Know This Already?" quizzes at the beginning of each chapter are indispensable. These will keep you from wasting time reviewing things you already know. Taking them also keeps you from possibly missing some arguably odd things Cisco deems important enough to include in the exam.

- Odom and Cisco Press definitely do a much better job explaining routing protocols and STP in this volume compared to past CCNA study guides.

- The accompanying CD includes a PDF of the book and exam and router simulators. If you use the simulators, make sure you download the latest updates from the Cisco Press web site.

Cons

- As I've said in other reviews, for whatever reason the universe will not allow publishers to print error-free exam study guides, and - just like the Cisco Press CCNA INTRO Exam Certification Guide - this book suffers from it's own share of errata. Although both books share the same three CCIEs as technical reviewers, this book has racked up "only" THIRTY-TWO errors since the first printing. Again, errors undermine learning and that defeats the purpose of the book.

- For some inexplicable reason the PDF version of the book on the CD was an older printing than the book itself. This will drive you nuts when you start finding errors in the PDF book that aren't in the printed version.

Some reviewers have noted that you may see questions on the 640-811 ICND exam covering topics that weren't covered in this book. Although that's possible, I suspect it is more likely those reviewers got questions covering material that wasn't in the *exam simulator* included with the book. The ICND exam includes some router simulation scenarios, and if you're not familiar with the CLI (configuring ACLs, etc.) you will probably have trouble with the exam. The router simulator included on the CD is okay - i.e. it's enough to pass the exam. However, nothing will reinforce the information in the book better than hands-on use of a router (or routers).

I'm giving this book 4 stars, mostly due to the errata. As a general rule, it's always wise to study from multiple sources when preparing for an exam. But, if you only have enough money to get one book, this one should be on your short list.

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